After the brutal weather conditions most of us went through last winter, many of us have been counting the days to our summer vacation.
Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean you’re safe from crime. That’s why we offer these safety tips to minimize your risks and to help keep you and your family members safe.
Before You Leave
- Choose a safe destination if traveling outside the U.S. – Check for travel warnings and alerts published by the U.S. Government. Our State Department has a Safe Traveler Registration Program which will keep you up-to-date concerning happenings in the country of your vacation getaway. Also, know the contact information and location of the US Embassy of the country you are visiting.
- Pick a reliable travel agent – The world is full of con artists and scammers. Beware of deals that sound too good to be true and agents that pressure you to make a quick decision and send them your money.
- Price trip insurance – You can get insurance to cover trip cancellations, event cancellations, lost luggage and more.
- Get your travel information in order – Make a copy of your passport and record all your credit card numbers. All of this will come in handy in the event they are lost or stolen. Keep the phone numbers of the fraud alert departments of your credit card providers with you in the event of emergency.
- Make sure someone knows your travel plans and itinerary – It’s a good safety practice for someone at home to know where you’ll be and when. Set up a pre-determined schedule to check in with them. Notify them if your travel plans change.
While Traveling
- Never leave luggage unattended – Also make sure to use your business address on luggage tags so thieves can’t spot your home address (many hang out at airport departure areas for this very reason).
- Use traveler’s checks and credit cards whenever possible – They cover you against loss or theft.
- Stay alert – Always be aware of your surroundings. Follow your instincts.
- Never flash cash – Don’t draw attention to yourself.
- Plan ahead –Think about what you’ll do in the event of travel delays, theft, lost luggage and other situations.
- Keep it low key – Don’t dress like a rich tourist in public. Avoid the flashy watches and other jewelry.
- Practice rental car safety – Thieves spot rental cars like kids see candy. Don’t leave valuables inside rentals.
- Lock the doors – Keep the doors locked and use the safety bolts and chains any time you are in your hotel room. Don’t open the door to strangers.
- Safety in numbers – Stay in public areas and travel in a group whenever possible. There is always safety in numbers when traveling in unfamiliar places.
- Use the room safe – Keep valuables in the room safe or safety deposit boxes at the hotel. All valuables should be secured and out of site.
- Plan your escape – Know the escape routes from the hotel in the event of a fire alarm.
Follow these simple precautions to stay safe on your vacation. And be sure to enjoy it. We know you’ve earned it.